WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 17

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 17

HIGH SCORES: Through Week 16, NFL teams have combined to score 10,914 points (45.48 points per game), on pace to surpass the league record of 11,356 set last season. An average of 44.36 points per game were scored in 2011, the highest average in 46 seasons.

The most points per game in a season since 1965:

MOST POINTS PER GAME SINCE 1965

1965

46.12

2012

45.48*

2011

44.36

2010

44.07

2008

44.06

* Through Week 16

-- NFL --

SEATTLE SURGE: The Seattle Seahawks have won all four of their games this December, outscoring opponents by a 173-47 margin during the month. With at least 27 points this Sunday against St. Louis, Seattle would become the fourth team in NFL history to score 200 points in a calendar month.

The only two modern-era NFL teams to accomplish the feat were the 1950 Los Angeles Rams (220 points in October) and 2007 New England Patriots (217 points in October). In November of 1924, the Frankford Yellow Jackets scored 238 points in eight games, when it was common for NFL teams to play multiple games in a single week.

The teams to score 200 points in a calendar month:

TEAM

POINTS

GAMES

MONTH

YEAR

Frankford Yellow Jackets

238

8

November

1924

L.A. Rams

220

5

October

1950

New England Patriots

217

5

October

2007

Seattle Seahawks

173*

4

December

2012

* One game remaining in month

-- NFL --

DENVER DOMINANCE: The Denver Broncos have won 10 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL. Each of those wins has come by a margin of at least seven points.

Denver is one of four teams in NFL history to win at least 10 games in a row by a margin of seven or more points in a single season. The Broncos, who host Kansas City this Sunday, can extend their streak to 11, which has only been achieved by the 1942 Chicago Bears (11) and 2005 Indianapolis Colts (13).

Teams that have won 10 straight games, all by seven or more points, in a single season:

TEAM

YEAR

CONSECUTIVE WINS, 7 PTS

Indianapolis Colts

2005

13

Chicago Bears

1942

11

San Francisco 49ers

1997

10

Denver Broncos

2012

10*

* Active

-- NFL --

MR. RODGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD: Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS leads the NFL with a 106.2 passer rating in 2012. If he maintains his current pace when the Packers face Minnesota in Week 17, Rodgers will join Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (1991-94) as the only qualifying players in NFL history to post a 100 passer rating in four consecutive seasons.

COOL BREES: New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES leads the league with 39 touchdown passes this season. With at least one TD pass against Carolina on Sunday, Brees would become the first player in NFL history with at least 40 touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons. He led the league with 46 TD passes in 2011.

Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO is the only NFL player with 40 passing TDs in multiple seasons (1984, 1986).

If he finishes the season as the NFL TD pass leader, Brees would tie BRETT FAVRE and Pro Football Hall of Famers LEN DAWSON, JOHNNY UNITAS and STEVE YOUNG (four) for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes in NFL annals. Brees has led the league in TD passes three times (2008-09, 2011).

The players with the most seasons leading the NFL in TD passes:

PLAYER

TEAM(S), YEARS

NO. OF SEASONS

Johnny Unitas

Baltimore,1957-1960

4

Len Dawson

Dall. Texans, 1962; Kansas City, 1963, 1965-66

4

Steve Young

San Francisco, 1992-94, 1998

4

Brett Favre

Green Bay, 1995-97, 2003

4

Drew Brees*

New Orleans, 2008-09, 2011

3

* NFL leader in TD passes through Week 16

-- NFL --

YEAR OF THE ROOKIE QB (PART 1): Two rookie quarterbacks – Indianapolis’ ANDREW LUCK and Seattle’s RUSSELL WILSON – have led their respective teams to playoff berths while winning 10 games each. Luck’s Colts (10-5) host Houston on Sunday and have secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Wilson’s Seahawks (10-5), who have clinched at least a Wild Card spot, face St. Louis in Week 17 and remain in contention for the the NFC West division title.

On Sunday, Luck and Wilson can both join BEN ROETHLISBERGER (13 wins), JOE FLACCO (11) and MATT RYAN (11) as the only starting rookie quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to win at least 11 games.

The starting rookie quarterbacks to win at least 10 games (since 1966):

YEAR OF THE ROOKIE QB (PART 2): Washington’s ROBERT GRIFFIN III ranks second among all NFL players with a 104.1 passer rating. If he maintains his current pace on Sunday night against Dallas, Griffin would eclipse BEN ROETHLISBERGER’s rookie record (98.1 in 2004). Seattle’s Russell Wilson (98.0) is right behind Roethlisberger’s 2004 pace.

Prior to 2012, Roethlisberger and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (96.0 in 1983) were the only two qualifying rookies in NFL history to post a 90 passer rating.

The rookies with the highest passer rating in NFL history (qualifying passers):

PLAYER

TEAM

YEAR

PASSER RATING

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh

2004

98.1

Dan Marino

Miami

1983

96.0

Greg Cook

Cincinnati

1969

88.3

Matt Ryan

Atlanta

2008

87.7

Cam Newton

Carolina

2011

84.5

Robert Griffin III

Washington

2012

104.1*

Russell Wilson

Seattle

2012

98.0*

* Through Week 16

-- NFL --

YEAR OF THE ROOKIE QB (PART 3): Seattle’s Russell Wilson leads all rookies with 25 touchdown passes this season. With at least two TD passes against the Rams on Sunday, Wilson would surpass PEYTON MANNING’s rookie record of 26 in 1998.

Three rookie quarterbacks have at least 20 touchdown passes in 2012, the most of any season in NFL history – Wilson (25), Andrew Luck (21) and Robert Griffin III (20). Prior to 2012, only five rookies in NFL history passed for at least 20 touchdowns.

On Sunday, Spiller and Peterson could each join JAMAAL CHARLES (2010) and Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (1963), BARRY SANDERS (1997) and O.J. SIMPSON (1973) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 1,200 yards in a season while averaging 6.00 yards per carry or better. No two players have previously accomplished the feat in the same season.

Spiller, whose Bills host the Jets in Week 17, needs to maintain his current average and rush for at least 15 yards to exceed Brown’s 6.40 yards per carry mark in 1963, the highest of any player with 1,200 rushing yards in a season.

Peterson, who also needs 102 rushing yards to become the seventh player in NFL history with 2,000 in a season, faces the Packers on Sunday.

The players to rush for at least 1,200 yards while averaging 6.00 yards per carry in a season:

Intro: The Colts put together their most dominant performance of the season on Monday night, in a resounding 41-10 victory over the Jets. Here were live in-game updates from the Colts (6-6) taking on the Jets (3-9) in Week 14.

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